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Land
Use Planning Workshops
For
more information contact Land Use Academy Instructor John Rozum at (860) 345-5225.
Note: The first three workshops
are the core classes taught by the Connecticut
Land Use Academy,
a new CLEAR effort supported by the CT Office of Policy and Management
(through funds provided by the Legislature) to provide “basic” training
and education to local land use commissioners.
- Roles and Responsibilities of Local Land Use Commissions
- Legal Procedures for Local Land Use Commissions
- Reading Maps and Site Plan Review
- Natural Resource Based Planning
- Conducting a Community Resource Inventory
- Preparing an Open Space Plan
- Farmland Preservation
- Benefits of Trees and Forestland
- Forestland Preservation
- Watershed Planning
- Planning for Greenways
- Open Space Management
- Preparing a Plan of Conservation and Development
- Zoning Regulations
- Cluster Zoning and Conservation Subdivisions
- Subdivision Regulations
- Connecticut’s Changing Landscape
- Smart Growth - Is it Right for Connecticut
- Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure
- Roles and Responsibilities of Local Land Use Commissions
The roles and responsibilities of local planning, zoning, zoning board
of appeals, conservation, economic development, historic district
and design review boards are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on the
enabling legislation establishing the commission as well as significant
court cases that impact decision making. Zoning and subdivision regulations
as well as plans of conservation and development are highlighted.
- Legal Procedures for Local Land Use Commissions
Presented by members of the Connecticut Bar Association, this workshop
details the specific procedures that must be followed by local land
use commissions as they conduct official business. Highlighted are
proper notification, application timetables, time frames for making
decisions, how to conduct meetings and hearings, conflict of interest
and answers to frequently asked questions
- Reading Maps and Site Plan Review
How to read maps and materials submitted in a typical site plan. This
workshop covers the basic components of a map so land use officials
feel more comfortable working with these basic components of a land
use application. Also covered is tips on how to perform an effective
site plan review as a basis for land use decision making. Hands on
map interpretation exercises are also included in this session.
- Natural Resource Based Planning
Knowing what natural resources exist, how to inventory them and use
them as a basis of planning and land use decision making is stressed
in this workshop. The goal of directing development to areas with
natural resources capable of supporting proposed uses is emphasized
as well protecting those areas containing unique and valuable resources.
- Conducting a Community Resource Inventory
Before a community can determine what it needs or wants it must know
what it has in the way of significant resources. Hence, the important
first step in the land use planning process is to inventory your
community’s natural, cultural and economic resources. This
workshop describes how conduct a resource inventory and the key players
involved. It offers a suggested ten map set as a basic, localized
inventory and describes how the inventory can be used to assist land
use commissions as they review proposed development and open space
options.
- Preparing an Open Space Plan
Every community seeks to balance development and land conservation.
This workshop discusses open space and its importance to a community’s
quality of life. Covered are; the definition of open space, the many
different types of open space, five functional categories of open
space, the economic impact of open space protection, the key players
at the federal, state and local levels, suggested open space objectives,
how to prepare an open space plan, open space preservation techniques
and dedication of open space and fee-in-lieu of dedication at the
time of subdivision
- Farmland Preservation
Once the dominant land use in Connecticut, farmland is being subjected
to a number of land use pressures. What is farmland and its economic,
environmental and social impact on the community are addressed in
this workshop. Also covered are; ways to inventory farmland, how
involve farmers in the planning process, how to prioritize agricultural
sites, how to plan for farmland preservation and fold it into the
local plan of conservation and development as well as various farmland
preservation techniques. Emphasis is place on “creative development,” where
landowners identify areas they would like or need to develop while
prime farmland soils are protected for future use.
- Benefits of Trees and Forestland
Trees provide many benefits—shade, beauty, windbreak, privacy,
cleaner air, less noise, less glare and higher property values to name
a few. This workshop looks at trees from the prospective of local
land use commissioners. Street trees, trees in parking lot landscaped
areas and preservation of trees on sites proposed for development are
discussed. Forested areas represent the largest land cover category
in our state yet few land use officials know how to inventory and plan
for this important renewal resource. Using the latest satellite imagery,
forest cover by municipality and region is discussed with emphasis
on to identify large unfragmented areas and incorporate them in natural
resource inventories.
- Forestland Preservation
Much attention has been given to farmland protection and open space
preservation, but relatively little has been devoted to forestland.
Forested areas represent close to 60% of our state’s total
area, yet rarely are they included in any detailed manner in land
use inventories and plans. In fact, most plans and zoning regulations
label forested areas as future development sites. This workshop covers
the many resources available to local land use officials so they
include forest lands in their planning. Emphasis is placed on how
inventory, and prioritize large unfragmented forested areas and how
to best fold them into open space plans and plans of conservation
and development. Particular emphasis is given to how officials might
work with forest landowners to encourage best management practices.
- Watershed Planning
In Connecticut land use decisions are made at the local level rarely
addressing the impacts of those decisions on the region or ecosystems.
Watersheds are ecosystems where all water drains to a common outlet.
As such it is important that local officials understand where water
wants to flow naturally and what impacts proposed development might
have on drainage patters. This workshop discusses what watershed
are, why they are important and watersheds originate in or flow into
each community. Successful watershed initiatives are reviewed and
suggestions offered as to how local officials can incorporate watersheds
in their inventories, plans and regulations.
- Planning for Greenways
Greenways are corridors of open space that may protect natural resources,
preserve scenic landscapes and provide a place for people to walk,
or bicycle from place to place. There are close to 100 greenway initiatives
in our state that can serve as models to those interested in planning
for a greenway in their community. This workshop discusses what greenways
are, why they are important, how to plan for and fund a greenway project.
- Open Space Management
Many communities are extremely interested in preserving open space
but give little attention as to how the land will be managed once saved.
This workshop reviews the different types of open space by function
and discusses how function dictates stewardship. Options as to who
might be the best manager based on the nature of land are offered.
Covered are the responsibilities of various municipal boards and
officials, involved with land management, as well as the roles of
land trusts, neighborhood associations and the state.
- Preparing a Plan of Conservation and Development
One of the most important documents a community writes is the local
plan of conservation and development. The plan is the town’s
vision of what areas are to be developed by use and density and those
areas to be protected because they contain important identified resources.
The planning commission is charged with preparing the plan and updating
every ten years. This workshop discusses what the is and why its
important. It covers what shall and what might be included in the
plan as well as the legal procedures to be followed for plan adoption.
- Zoning Regulations
Zoning involves the division of a community into land use districts
and the regulation of uses, activities, and structures within those
districts. Typical zoning districts include residential, commercial,
and industrial. Connecticut communities are not required to have
zoning yet, all but three have adopted it. The history and legal
basis of zoning is discussed as well as the common elements of a
zoning regulation. The state enabling statutes are reviewed to describe
what is required to be all regulations and what might be included.
Emphasis is place on the relationship of zoning to subdivision regulations
and special permits.
- Cluster Zoning and Conservation Subdivisions
Subdivision design is often criticized for generating lots that are
laid out resembling ice cube trays. These “cookie cutter” subdivisions
where viewed as creating bland suburban landscapes where every lot
looked alike. In reaction to this criticism, planners developed an
alternative design where required lot sizes were reduced, usually
in half, and as a result half of the tract was reserved as protected
open space. Clustering is a traditional land form. Early New England
towns had small home sites clustered around the town green while
farms had the home and barns clustered together and surrounded by
open fields. However, cluster development is of viewed with suspicion
as many feel it favors the landowner/developer to the determent of
the community. This workshop addresses all these issues and cites
examples of successful cluster developments as well as model conservation
subdivision regulations.
- Subdivision Regulations
In Connecticut anyone dividing a tract of land into three or more lots
is required to go before the local planning commission and obtain
a subdivision approval. This workshop reviews the legal basis for
subdivision regulations, the state statutes governing subdivision,
as well as what must be and what might be included in a subdivision
regulation. Emphasis is given to proposed site improvements, dedication
of open space, road standards, drainage, and storm water control.
- Connecticut’s Changing Landscape
Using satellite images, the University of Connecticut Center for Land
Use Education and Research (CLEAR) has produced maps and charts documenting
land cover change in Connecticut from 1985 to 2002. Highlighted are
developed areas as well as areas in agricultural and forest land
cover. This research has for the first time provided a basis to compare
land cover trends over time. This has proven especially useful in
discussions on smart growth and sprawl issues that are often debated
on emotion rather that hard research. The workshop reviews the research
and describes how it might be used by local land use officials in
resource inventories, open space plans, economic development plans
and plans of conservation and development.
- Smart Growth – Is It Right for Connecticut?
Local land use officials are often criticized for making decisions
that have led to sprawl or unplanned growth in open spaces. Smart
growth is often cited as an alternative. It suggests development
be clustered in areas that are already built, served with infrastructure
and mass transit and are pedestrian friendly. Others feel smart growth
proponents want everyone to leave the suburbs, sell their car and
move into high rise apartment in high crime urban centers. This workshop
addresses smart growth principles in terms of their applicability
to Connecticut communities. It also reviews satellite images showing
development patterns from 1985 to 2202 by town, region and state.
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